Slaughtneil’s hopes of reaching a first All-Ireland Club Hurling final at the fifth attempt were dashed as they suffered a agonizing 0-18 to 0-17 defeat to Munster champions Sarsfields.

With the Cork side leading 0-18 to 0-16 in added time at Newbridge, the Ulster champions had a glorious last chance to snatch victory, but captain Mark McGuigan sent the ball home to- over the bar from a central position just outside the field. small square.

After the final whistle, Slaughtneil’s pain was summed up by the sight of an inconsolable Shane McGuigan after Robert Emmet’s side failed yet again in the penultimate stage of the competition.

The Cork club led 0-8 to 0-7 at half-time after Slaughtneil were two up after the first quarter only to suffer a misfortune when free taker Cormac O’Doherty missed a trio of placed balls.

Sarsfields looked fortunate to still have a full complement of 15 players at the break, with Eoghan Murphy tangling with the outstanding Brendan Rogers on several occasions and Colm McCarthy appearing to catch Shane McGuigan with a high stick.

Slaughtneil came out fired up after the break as a long-range score from Meehaul McGrath helped them go from 0-12 to 0-9 after 42 minutes.

During this period of Slaughtneil’s superiority, Sarsfields again benefited from a hugely controversial call from referee James Owens, who felt that Jack O’Connor’s late stick into O’Doherty’s helmet did not deserve than a yellow card.

O’Connor then scored two of Sarsfields’ remaining points, with Munster Final supersub Shane O’Regan once again making an impact with two scores.

Sarsfields led 0-15 to 0-13 after just 57 minutes thanks to two free kicks from O’Doherty to level the match as the game reached added time.

However, points from Aaron Myers and Liam Healy restored a two-point advantage to the Cork side and while Shane McGuigan responded, Cathal McCarthy doubled Sarsfields’ lead once more before the last chance of goal from Mark McGuigan.